Do you remember when you received your first love letter? I’ll never forget mine. It went something like this, I like you, do you like me, check yes or no. I was young, and had no idea what love really was. All I knew was my belly was full of butterflies.
Did you know the Apostle Paul had a love for the Philippian brethren? In Philippians 1:7 he writes, “I have you in my heart…” In the next verse he again writes, “I long after you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:8).
It’s in this very city that Paul so loved that Silas and himself were beaten for preaching Christ and put in prison and around midnight they were praying and singing hymns unto God and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25). Oh, the power of love is stronger than any physical wound. No amount of ill-treatment could lessen the love that Paul and Silas have for their God. Beaten and in chains, they sing. It’s in this same love letter that Paul penned the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always…” You might say, Paul lived what he preached.
The message is true for you and me today. We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always. But do we? We have become a nation that spends our time complaining. We complain about politics. About school boards. How it rains too much, or it’s too hot, or it’s too cold. How no one spoke to me. They didn’t ask me to do this or that.
Do you know what the results were that day when Paul and Silas were praying and singing in prison? The “prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). And because of that, the jailer cries out, “what must I do to be saved.” And that very night all that was in his house believed and was baptized. Do you realize the power of your attitude? By Paul and Silas giving praise to God, souls were saved that night.
It also teaches, we should be careful because there is always someone listening. In the darkest of places. In the places where we think God isn’t wanted. Around people that we think would never accept Jesus. A jailer cries out. “What must I do to be saved.” (Acts 16:25-34). Do you realize, this night could have turned out very differently? Paul and Silas and the prisoners could have run when the jail doors were swung open miraculously. But even before that. Paul and Silas could have chosen to be mad about their unfair treatment. They could have been ugly to the guards. And if they had, the jailer would never have seen a difference in them than any other prisoner. But because they choose to “rejoice” souls were saved.
The next time you find yourself complaining about life, remember someone is listening. Even in places you think they’re not. How you respond to struggles in life may be the difference between someone being saved or remaining lost. Lord, I pray you forgive me for the times I have been negative. For the times I failed to “rejoice.” May others see my joy and may it be infectious. Let me be a part of the cure not part of the problem. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
